Reinforcing and cover supporting device for a container



' Dec. 23, 1958 P. WASYLUKA I REINFORCING AND COVER SUPPORTING DEVICEFOR A CONTAINER Filed Dec. 30, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 39 .3? 50 3: 4/FIG-l. 5a 49 Dec. 23, 1958 P. WASYLUKA REINFORCING AND COVER SUPPORTINGDEVICE FOR A CONTAINER Filed Dec. 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG].

FIG.8.

Wyn rm? P404 K45) mo? Dee. 23, 1958 P. WASYLU KA REINFORCING AND COVERSUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER Filed D60. 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3lfinewrax 2W4 Msmuxi 3y 7%- Ivor/5r REINFORCING AND CGVER SUPPORTINGDEVICE FOR A CGNTAINER Paul Wasyluka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., acorporation of Nevada Application December 30, 1954, Serial No. 478,597

1 Claim. (Cl. 22937) The invention relates to a novel device formed offolded transverse sections of a flap integral with the end wall panel ofhinged cover containers, comprising a tran verse reinforcement to theupper margin of the end panel and a ledge extending inwardly in rightangular relation to the end wall of the container for supporting thecover in its closed position.

More specifically, the reinforcement and supporting ledge is formed by aflap integral with the upper edge of the end panel of the container,extending upwardly in its initial position in co-planar relation to theend panel, thence reversely inwardly and downwardly flatwise against theinner face of the upper portion of the end panel. In this initialposition of the device, the side and end walls of the container may beconnected together in tubular form by a glue or stitch flap or othersuitable means and the container readily knocked down flatwise forshipment to the user. When the container is opened up into rectangularform from its collapsed shipping state preparatory to loading withbottled beverages or the like, the interior thereof is entirely free ofobstructing elements to loading, since the lower part of the reinforcingflap in its described initial position is in juxtaposed relation withthe inner face of the upper portion of the end wall, while the upperportion of the device is in approximately co-planar relation to the endpanel.

Upon completion of the loading of the container, the portion of thereinforcing device positioned above the upper edge of the end panel isfolded inwardly in right angular relation to the end panel along ahorizontal hinge line defining the upper edge of the end panel. Theinwardly directed horizontal ledge thus formed provides a support to thehinged cover in its closed position, while the portion of the device injuxtaposed relation to the inner face of the upper portion of the endpanel provides a strong reinforcement to the part of the container mostvulnerable to failure when the loaded case is carried by one handholedopening, as is common practice with containers of the class described.

When hinged half cover panels are employed for closing the container,flanges may be provided on the outer longitudinal edges thereof and theflanges folded inwardly in approximately right angular relation to thecover panel. For such cover constructions, the supporting ledges may beprovided with slots extending inwardly from the mid width of theirfolded edge for receiving the side margins of the cover flanges andreleasably locking the covers in the closed position.

The device is especially desirable for use with containers for shippingbottled beverages of all kinds such as, for example, 24 l2-ounce bottlesof beer. Such containers are subject to severe handling and abuse. it iscommon practice to grasp and lift the loaded carriers by one handhole,thus imposing an excessive strain on the upper portion of the end paneland frequently resulting in failure. Containers of this class are widelyemployed, and attempts are constantly being made to simplify theassembly as far as possible, enhance the appearance and 2,865,553Patented Dec. 23, 1958 cc i provide a sturdy, economical design capableof multitrip service.

In a modified form of the device, the end panel marginal flap isprovided with an extension at its outer edge which is reversely foldedupwardly along a score adjacent to the upper boundary of the handholeand positioned between the inner face of the end panel and the downwardfold of the reinforcing flap. The free edge of the flap extension, whenfolded as described, terminates adjacent to the underface of theinnermost folded section of the flap. This modified form of the deviceis folded inwardly at the upper edge of the end panel upon completion ofthe loading of the container to form a horizontal supporting ledge forthe split covers of the container, substantially as hereinbeforedescribed. Also in its final folded position, the device provides areinforcement of two-ply thickness across the upper portion of the endpanel.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a container with hingedhalf covers adapted for shipment of bottled beverages and the like witha simple, highly effective dual purpose device for reinforcing the upperportion of the end wall and providing an inwardly extending ledge forsupporting the half covers of the container in their closed position.

Another object is to provide a knocked-down, one piece container withconnected together, opposed side and end walls and half cover panels andhandholes in the end walls with a flap integral with the upper edge ofthe end wall folded to provide a two-ply portion extending upwardly inco-planar relation to the end wall and a portion extending downwardly inflatwise reinforcing rela tion across the inner face of the upperportion of the end wall.

A still further object is to provide a collapsible container forshipping bottled beverages and the like having connected together sideand end walls with a preformed device integral with the end walls havinga lower portion which reinforces the upper portion of the end walls andan upper portion which forms a supporting ledge for the hinged covers byfolding inwardly at the level of the upper edge of the end panels afterthe container is loaded.

Another object is to provide a split cover for a shipping container witha reinforcing flap integral with the upper edge of the end panelsextending upwardly in co-planar relation to the end panel, thencereversely inwardly and downwardly to about the upper edge of a handholein the upper portion of the end panel and finally reversely upwardlyagainst the inner face of the end panel to approximately the upper edgethereof, forming a two-ply reinforcement to the upper portion of the endpanel and a two-ply cover supporting ledge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a clear and complete understanding of theconstruction and operation of the device. I

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andwherein like opened into rectangular shape with the bottom closureflaps-and top cover panels extending outwardly in the plane of the wallfrom which they depend;

Fig. is a vertical sectional view of the container of Fig. 4 taken inthe direction of the arrows 55;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container fully assembled prior toclosing the covers;

Fig. 7 is a vertical" cross sectional view of the container shown inFig. 6 taken in the direction of the arrows Fig. 8 is a perspective Viewof the container with the cover panels taped in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified blank for forming the container ofthe invention;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the modified blank showing one of the endreinforcing flaps partially folded and the other completely folded toits initial position;

Fig. 11 is a' vertical, sectional view of the reinforcing flap taken inthe direction of the arrows 1i11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical, sectional view of the reinforcing flap taken inthe direction of the arrows 1212 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the partially assembled container in collapsedform ready for shipment;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the modified container with a portionof a cover and an adjacent Wall broken away to show the fully assembledreinforcing device prior to closing the split covers;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the modified container with a portionof the top and side broken away to show the cover locking mechanism; and

Fig. 16 is a vertical, sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 15taken in the direction of the arrows 16l6.

The blank of a preferred form of the invention is shown at A in Fig. 1.Parallel longitudinal scores 20 and 21 define the upper and lower edgesof side wall panels 22 and 23 and end wall panels 24 and 25. Thesescores also define the fold line of upper and lower side panel closureflaps, 26 and 27 and 28 and 29 respectively, and also the end panelupper reinforcing flaps 39 and 32 and bottom closure flaps 31 and 33.Parallel transverse scores 34, 35 and 36 define the connected side edgesof panels 22, 23, 24, and 25. Transverse score 37 defines the outer sideedge of end panel and the hinge line about which the sealing flap 38 isfolded. Upper slots 39, 41 and 43, extending from the upper longitudinaledge of the blank A inwardly to the longitudinal score 28 in the planeof the transverse scores 34, 35 and 36 respectively, define the sideedges of flaps 26, 27, and 32. Slots 40, 42 and 44, likewise extendingin the plane of transverse score 34, and 36 from the lower longitudinaledges of the blank to the score 21, define the side edges of flaps 28,29, 31 and 33 respectively.

The end panel reinforcing flaps 30 and 32 are scored transversely at 45and 46, dividing each of the flaps into parallel sections 47, 48, and49. A handhole 51 is preferably cut in the upper margin of the panels 24and 25 and a cut-out St) in section 49 to insure alignment of the outeredge of the section with the upper boundary of the handhole 51.

If desired, the sections 49 of the reinforcing flaps 3t) and 32 may belengthened to extend downwardly below the level of the handholes in theend panels 24 and 25 and handholes provided in the extended portionsaligned with the handholes in the end panels.

The blank A may be conveniently assembled by first folding thereinforcing flaps 30 and 32 downwardly and inwardly about the transversescore 45 bringing the sections 47 and 48 of the flaps into fiatwiserelation. In this initial folded position of the reinforcing flaps, theouter sections 49 will be in flatwise relation with the inner face ofthe end panels 24 and 25 above the handholes 51, withthejuxtaposed'sections 47 and 48'positi'oned above the upper edge of andin co-planar'relation to the end panels.

A vertical, sectional view of the flaps 30 and 32, folded in the initialposition described, is shown in Fig. 5. The blank is next folded aboutthe transverse score 35 to position the side panel 22 in fiatwiserelation over the end panel 25 and the end 24 over the side panel 23.The sealing flap 38 may be attached to the free outer edge of side panel22 by staples 52, glue, or any other suitable means. At this stage ofthe assembly the blank is in fully collapsed form for shipment.

At the loading plant or point of use, the folded blank shown in Fig. 3is opened up into rectangular form as illustrated in Fig. 4. The bottomclosure flaps 28, 29, 31 and 33 are folded inwardly and secured togetherto form a secure bottom panel for the container while the upper sidepanel closure flaps 26 and 27 remain extended upwardly in substantiallyco-planar relation to the end panels. It will be noted that at thispoint the interior of the container is entirely free from obstructingelements which would interfere with automatic loading of the containerswith bottles or other articles. The folded reinforcing flaps 30 and 32remain in the initial folded position hereinbefore described with thesections 47 and 48 in juxtaposed relation extending upwardly from theupper edge of the panels 24 and 25.

Upon completion of the loading of the container, the juxtaposed sections47 and 48 of the reinforcing flaps 30 and 32 are folded inwardly aboutthe score 20 into right angular relation to the end panels 24 and 25,forming a two-ply horizontal ledge on which the side panel top closureflaps 26 and 27 rest in their closed position. The described supportingledges are best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. After the top closure flaps 26and 27 have been folded inwardly and downwardly with their outer marginsrestingon the hereinbefore described horizontal ledges, they may besecured in this closed position by tape 53 or other suitable means. Theloaded container is now ready for shipment.

The blank B of a modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 9. Thisblank is identical with the blank A of Fig. 1 with the exception of theside panel upper closure flaps and the end panel reinforcing and coversupporting flaps. Both the side panel closure flaps and the end panelreinforcing flaps are somewhat longer than the corresponding flaps ofthe blank A of Fig. 1 to provide longitudinal flanges 66 and 67 on theouter free edges of the side panel flaps and an additional foldablesection on the outer free edge of the end panel reinforcing flaps.

The side panel flaps 60 and 61 are scored longitudinally at 64 and 65respectively, defining the closure flanges 66 and 67 extending from theouter longitudinal edges thereof. Slots 68, 70 and 72, extending fromthe upper edge of the blank inwardly to score 20 in alignment withtransverse scores 34, 35 and 36 respectively, define the side edges offlaps 60, 61, 62 and 63. The outer portions of the flaps 60 and 61 arecut angularly inwardly to the horizontal scores 64 and 65 respectivelyfor a purpose to be detcrihed later. Locking slots 74 are provided atthe ends of the longitudinal scores 64 and 65.

The reinforcing flaps 62 and 63 are scored longitudinally at 75, 76 and77, dividing the flap into parallel, foldable sections 78, 79, and 81.Locking slots 82 are positioned midway the width of the flaps 62 and 63,extending across approximately equal adjacent portions of sections 78and 79.

The modified blank may be assembled by first folding the sections 81 ofthe end panel reinforcing iiaps 62 and 63 about the scores 77 intoflatwise relation to section 88 and securing these sections together byglue or other suitable means. At this initial stage of the foldingreinforcing end fiaps 62 and 63, the secured together sections 78 and 79will extend above the upper edge of the end wall in co-planar relationwith the end walls'as shown in Fig. 12, while the secured togethersections 80 and 31 will be positioned fiatwise against the inner face ofthe end panels above the handholes. The container is now' ready 7 byautomatic machines.

Upon completion of the loading of the container, the secured togetherflaps 78 and 79 are folded inwardly about score 20 into right angularrelation with the end panels 24 and 25. In this final position, thereinforcing flaps 62 and 63 provide a two-ply inwardly extending ledgefor supporting the cover panels 60 and 61 in the closed position, and atwo-ply reinforcement positioned fiatwise across the portion of the endpanels above the upper boundary of the handholes.

The longitudinal flanges 66 and 67, attached to the cover fiaps 60 and61 respectively, are next folded inwardly in right angular relation tothe cover flaps and inserted in the slots 82 provided in the foldedsections 78 and 79 of the end panel reinforcements. The length of theflanges 66 and 67 are regulated so that their side edges will be incontacting relation with the inner base portions of the slots 82 asshown in Fig. 15 and the end portions of flaps 60 and 61 correspondinglytapered inwardly, with the locking slots 74 of the cover panelsstraddling the base portions of the slots 82. The loaded container isnow ready for shipment.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described areillustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood thatthe .invention may be susceptible of embodiment in other modified forms,and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent heretocome equally within the scope of the claim next appearing.

What I claim is:

A one-piece container for bottle goods and the like having connectedtogether opposed pairs of side and end walls with closure means for thetop and bottom of the container, the end walls having handholes in theirupper portions, the opposed end walls each having at its extreme upperedge a flap defined therefrom by a fold line, the

6 flap consisting of a plurality of transverse sections of slightly lesswidth than the end wall and with fold lines defining the said sections,first and second transverse sections of substantially the samedimensions which form a ledge being folded inwardly on an end fold lineand secured together in rigid parallel face contacting relationship witheach other and extending vertically outwardly from each end panel, saidfirst section being hinged along a fold line defining the upper edge ofthe end wall, and at least one finger engaging outer free section ofeach said flap slidably disposed against the inner face of each endwall, and in which pre-ass embled form the container is collapsed forstorage and shipment, when fully erected and only after the bottle goodsor the like are in the container the ledge forming sections in theirfixed contacting relationship extending inwardly with their folded endsfacing each other in substantially the plane of the folds constitutingthe top edges of each of the end walls and at substantially rightangular relationship thereto, and each outer free section extendingdownwardly and slidably engaging the adjacent inner portion of each endwall and with the end edge of each outer free section terminating insubstantial alignment with an upper boundary of each handhole, wherebythe outer free sections provide a reinforcement to said end wallportions above said handholes and also a support for the ledges, andmarginal end portions of the top closure superimposed on and supportedby the ledges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,043,483 Lynch June 9, 1936 2,386,905 Meitzen Oct. 16, 1945 2,398,404Brooks Apr. 16, 1946 2,491,278 Ringler Dec. 13, 1949 2,555,581 DunningJune 5, 1951 2,611,528 Vadner Sept. 23, 1952 2,612,305 Klasing et al.Sept. 30, 1952 2,622,785 Kieckhefer Dec. 23, 1952

